CALLING FOR A COMMUNITY OF LOVE

sermon for august 30, 2020.
Text: Romans 12; 9-21

In order to better understand the message of Romans 12: 9-21, it is necessary to put it in its proper context by looking at the first verse of the chapter. Let us note that there is an appeal, a plea from Paul to the church: I appeal to you, or another translation says, I beg you, yet another says, I urge you. Whichever translation we use, the message is clear. In view of God’s mercy, offer you bodies as living sacrifices, holy and acceptable to God. Paul notes that this is a spiritual act of worship. It is an appeal to the members of the church at Roman to adopt and maintain a lifestyle pleasing to God, because he understood the importance of such a lifestyle to the effective witness of the church.

He is not speaking about an emotion, the feelings we have for family members or friends nor any of the other variations of love as normally expressed in daily experiences and interactions with others. Those expressions can easily change as circumstances or situation change.

The text is specific in using the word, agape, which speaks to the unconditional, unchanging love of God for his creation. The love with which he so loved that world that He gave his son, for undone human beings such as we are, so that those who in believe in him, might be saved.

It is the love that Jesus commands his followers, to have when in John 13:34 He gave the new commandment: “Love on another. As I have loved you, so also you must love one another. By this all men will know that you are my disciples if you love one another”.

In his appeal to the Christians in the church at Rome admonishes - love must be sincere. He is making the point that with sincere love, there should be no place for hatred. He is making the point that sincere love means a being devoted to each other in the body of believers. He is making the point that it

means placing the interest of others before our own, which is the very example set by Jesus in his own ministry. All to be done with joy and great affection.

Why does Paul take the time to point out what should be the normal lifestyle of Christians?

It is because when there is true agape, true love and living among the members of the community of faith, it speaks volumes to the world around. Those who are not of the community of faith will be able to say, these people are disciples of Jesus, called to serve and witness to the world.

The present state of affairs in the world cause a greater awareness of the need for sincere, effective love among and between the people of God who in the world yet set apart from of the world to bear witness of His love for all humanity. Set apart to bear witness without what could be the divisiveness of denominational differences, or even differences within congregations, and so be instrumental in bringing a sense healing to a society and world already torn by conflicts based on color creed political persuasion, even the struggles and debates on containing the present Pandemic. A world in which people are living and struggling to overcome many issues, seemingly without hope.

This is the mission field in which the message of love and reconciliation needs to be proclaimed, so that as the spirit moves, the hearts of men and women may be changed, Hearts sometimes filled with envy, and malice and hatred, hearts that can yet be changed to be hearts of love and peace and goodwill to the glory of God.

The task may appear to be daunting. and some may feel a sense of inadequacy, but God makes us adequate as he leads and equips each of us to witness by power of His Holy Spirit.

There are persons who cannot readily express themselves, persons who suffer from some debilitating illness, who may be considered unable to lead a normal life as we know it. But we also find that many of these persons are able to rise above their challenges as God works his will.

Although they are challenged, they are still able to make their own unique contribution to society.

This tells us that with God all things are possible; with God we can rise above any inadequacies, to carry out the mission to which God calls. Yes, we may have our own challenges and weaknesses, our limitations. Some may lack certain skills, but all of us, without exception, have the ability to show and practice sincere, unconditional love for each other. We all are called to be living examples for others to follow, and so have any impact on the world around us.

True love demands among other things that we show respect for each other as human beings of equal value in the sight of God.

Sincere love, beginning with people of faith, will make ripples spreading outward through communities making greater impacts than we can imagine as the Holy Spirit works in and through the church. There are many infectious things which are detrimental to our wellbeing are spreading far and wide today. What mission today is to work to ensure that the infectious love of God takes root in our churches, societies, our nation and the world.

Like Paul, we must the recognize that because of the frailty of our nature, there may be setbacks in seeking to achieve this goal. He says “if it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone”

This is the message we must convey by our example, that we do all we can for each other, and seek to live at peace with each other despite the many differences that exist and leave the issue to God.

This is not an impossibility but a real possibility worth working toward as the people of faith. Let us have sincere love for each other, an infectious love that touches and draws our people close to God and to the practice of godly living.

To quote St. Paul as I close, recognizing that we are called to let our lights shine in the in a world darkened by “undone human beings”: “Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.”

Amen